1857 


Melvin 

Journal 
of  the  Expedition  to  Quebec 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

GIFT  OF 
COMMODORE  BYRON  MCCANDLESS 


.•••• 


:  •• 


7 


• 

4(578 


A    JOURNAL 


EXPEDITION    TO    QUEBEC, 


IN  THE  YEAR  1775, 


UNDEJt  THE  COMMAND  OF  COLONEL  BENEDICT  AltNOLD. 


\3\A,  AL  B  &>'/'$  ^L  V  I  N  , 


OOMl'A.NY. 


NEW    YORK: 
1857. 


±8561 


ONE  HCSDRED  CCJPIE?.  c 

PRIVATEIY  PRINTER. 


X 


1023983 


INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS. 


THE  march  of  ARNOLD  and  his  determined  followers  across  the  wilder- 
ness of  Maine,  and  the  subsequent  attack  and  repulse  at  Quebec,  foim 
one  of  the  most  interesting,  as  well  as  exciting  episodes  in  our  revolu- 
tionary history;  the  fortitude  also  with  which  these  devoted  men  sustained 
themselves  amid  the  gloom  and  solitude  of  those  untrodden  wilds,  merits 
the  grateful  preservation  of  all  records  which  may  have  escaped  the  de- 
caying elements  of  time  and  neglect.  A  spirit,  akin  to  this,  has  led  to 
the  issuing  of  the  following  Journal  of  a  soldier  in  that  expedition. 

For  the  purpose  of  co-operating  with  General  SCHUYLER,  who  had  the 
command  of  the  invasion  of  Canada,  WASHINGTON  planned  this  expedi- 
tion to  Quebec,  which  was  as  remarkable  for  its  novelty  and  boldness,  as 
for  the  dangers  and  difficulties  which  it  involved.  These  overcome,  how- 
ever, and  a  brilliant  and  speedy  issue  to  the  struggle  in  Canada,  was  ren- 
dered almost  certain.  The  subject  of  this  expedition  was  first  named  by 
WASHINGTON,  in  a  letter  to  General  SCHDYLER,  dated  at  Cambridge,  20th 
of  August,  1775,  in  which  he  says,  "  The  design  of  this  express  is  to 
communicate  to  you  a  plan  of  an  expedition,  which  has  engaged  my 
thoughts  for  several  days.  It  is  to  penetrate  to  Canada,  by  way  of  the 
Kennebec  river,  and  so  to  Quebec,  by  a  route  ninety-six  miles  below 
Montreal."  He  also  says,  "  The  few  whom  I  have  consulted  upon  it,  ap- 
prove it  much  ;  but  the  final  determination  is  deferred  until  I  hear  from 
you."  The  scheme  having  met  the  approval  of  General  SCHUYLER,  mea- 
sures were  at  once  taken  by  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  put  it  in  opera- 
tion. 


VI  INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS. 

The  active  and  fearless  spirit  which  BENEDICT  ARNOLD  evinced,  par- 
ticularly at  the  taking  of  Ticonderoga,  pointed  to  him  as  one  eminently 
qualified  to  command  an  expedition,  so  daring  and  adventurous  as  that 
determined  upon.  These  actions  were  not  forgotten  by  WASHINGTON, 
and  he  accordingly  selected  him  to  take  the  command,  and  with  it  a 
commission  as  Colonel  in  the  continental  line. 

ARNOLD,  after  receiving  his  instructions,  which  enjoined  him  to  prose- 
cute the  march  with  all  diligence  and  despatch,  and  to  conciliate  the 
good  will  of  the  people,  through  whose  country  he  should  pass,  with 
eleven  hundred  men,  commenced  his  march,  and  after  six  weeks'  struggle, 
a  few  days  before  MONTGOMERY  entered  Montreal,  he  reached  the  south 
bank  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  opposite  Quebec. 

•'The  long,  difficult  and  laborious  march  of  ARNOLD,  through  hard- 
ships and  dangers,  that  would  have  appalled  the  stoutest  follower  of 
Zenophon — his  subsequent  seige  and  blockade  of  one  of  the  strongest 
military  posts  in  the  world,  in  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country,  in  the 
midst  of  a  northern  winter,  where  nothing  was  seen  but  ice  and  snow, 
with  raw  recruits,  half  clad,  half  fed,  and  scarcely  half  covered  from  the 
storms  of  wind  and  snow — the  expedition  to  Canada  may  fairly  be  placed 
on  a  parallel  with  any  of  the  boasted  achievements  of  ancient  Greece  or 
Eome.  Nor  was  the  conclusion  of  it  less  honorable,  though  less  bril- 
liant— the  retreat  of  General  SULLIVAN  will  hold  a  rank  among  the  most 
glorious  efforts  of  military  genius,  so  long  as  the  world  shall  delight  in 
war." 

Of  JAMES  MELVIN,  the  author  of  this  journal,  we  know  nothing,  save 
what  he  has  given  us  in  the  written  account  of  his  connection  with  that 
expedition,  and  from  which  it  appears  that  he  was  attached  to  Captain 
DEARBORN'S  company,  which  had  been  formed  from  a  New  Hampshire 
regiment;  but  whether  he  held  any  grade  higher  than  that  of  a  private, 
we  have  no  means  of  knowing.  The  style  of  the  composition,  and  ex- 


INTRODUCTORY   REMARKS.  Vll 

ceedingly  neat  penmanship  of  the  journal,  is  strong  evidence,  however, 
that  he  possessed,  for  the  times,  considerable  education.  As  a  contribu- 
tion to  the  history  of  ARNOLD'S  march  to  Canada,  it  is  of  great  value, 
when  we  consider  how  very  meagre  are  the  details  given  by  historians  in 
general,  when  treating  of  that  important,  movement  of  the  beginning  of 
the  Revolution.  Of  the  officers  attached  to  the  expedition,  it  has  been 
remarked,  that  nearly  all  became  distinguished — MORGAN,  BURR,  DEAR- 
BORN, GREEN,  BOYD  and  PORTERFIELD,  are  names  found  in  many  of  the 
bloody  conflicts  of  that  protracted  war.  Of  ARNOLD,  the  world  knows 
his  career,  and  we  may  remark  with  Mrs.  WARREN,  "  That  he  lived  to 
be  conspicuously  distinguished  through  the  American  war,  for  his  bra- 
very and  address,  his  activity  and  his  villainy." 

W.  J.  D. 


A   JOURNAL. 


CAMBRIDGE,  SEPTEMBER  13, 1775. 

1775 
Sept.  13.       THIS  day  being  Wednesday,  marched  from  Cambridge, 

in  Capt.  DEARBORN'S1  company,  destined  for  Quebec,  and 
were  to  embark  at  Newburyport  for  Kennebec  river.  We 
lodged  in  Medford. 

"  14.  Received  one  month's  pay,  and  marched  to  Lynn;  lodged 
at  Porter's  tavern. 

"    15.       Marched  to  Ipswich. 

"  16.  Marched  to  Newburyport;  the  company  were  quartered 
in  a  rope-walk. 

"17.      Sunday — the  detachment  went  to  meeting. 

"  18.  P.  M. — Embarked  on  board  a  schooner  of  seventy-five 
tons;  the  whole  were  embarked  in  eleven  vessels. 

"  19.  About  10  o'clock  sailed  out  of  the  harbor,  and  stood  on 
and  off,  waiting  for  one  of  the  vessels  which  got  aground, 
and  not  getting  off,  the  men  were  put  on  board  the  other 
vessels,  and  we  sailed  in  the  afternoon,  with  a  fair  wind  and 
pleasant  weather;  at  night  it  grew  thick  and  foggy,  with 
rain,  thunder  and  lightning,  and  blowed  fresh. 

"  20.  In  the  morning,  foggy  and  wet;  lay  too  part  of  the  night; 
at  daybreak  two  of  our  fleet  were  in  sight,  and  we  made 
sail  and  stood  in  for  the  shore.  Blowed  fresh — we  made 
Seguin. 


1  Afterward  Major-General  and  Secretary  of  War. 


10  JOURNAL. 

e 

21.  Saw  two  of  our  vessels  coming  out  of  Sheepsgut  river 
into  Kennebeck.  We  proceeded  up  the  river  as  far  as  the 
tide  would  permit,  and  came  to  anchor  within  six  miles  of 
Fort  Western.2 

23.  Arrived  at  Fort  Western.  One  JAMES  McCoRMiCK  shot 
Sergeant  BISHOP. 

25.  McCormick  was  found  guilty. 

26.  He  was  brought  to  the  gallows  and  reprieved. 

27.  Got  our  provisions  into  batteaux,  and  went  about  four 
miles. 

28.  Proceeded  up  the  river  and  found  the  water  shoal,  which 
caused  a  rapid  current,  and  we  were  obliged  often  to  get 
out  and  wade,  pulling  the  boat  after  us. 

30  Arrived  at  Fort  Halifax,  where  was  the  first  carrying 
place;  the  land  here  is  better  than  that  near  the  sea.  We 
carried  over  our  batteaux  and  pro  visions;  the  carrying  place 
is  opposite  the  fort. 

1.  Proceeded  up  the  river;  encamped  in  the  woods;  went 

2.  about  ten  miles.     Cold  and  rainy. 

3  Came  to  Scowhegan  falls;  the  carrying  place  is  about 
forty  rods  over  a  little  island. 

4  Went  up  to  Bumazees  Ripples,  and  came  to  Norrigewalk. 
The  carriage-place  is  about  a  mile  in  length.     We  had  oxen 
to  haul  over  our  provision.     Our  batteaux  were  caulked. 
We  were  now  to  take  our  leave  of  houses  and  settlements, 
of  which  we  saw  no  more,  except  one  Indian  wigwam,  'till 
we  came  among  the  French,  in  Canada. 

6.  Left  Norrigewalk;  went  about  five  miles. 

7.  Went  about  twelve  miles  and  encamped.     The  land  here 
is  level  and  good;  the  river  rapid. 

8.  Proceeded  up  the  river  and  encamped  about  five  miles 
below  the  falls. 


2.  Opposite  the  present  town  of  Augusta. 


JOURNAL.  11 

1775 
Oct'r.  9.       Arrived  at  the  great  carrying-place,  where   was  a  log 

house  built  for  the  sick. 

"  10.  Mr.  SPRING,3  our  chaplain,  went  to  prayers;  we  went  to 
the  first  pond,  four  miles  from  the  river;  it  bio  wed  hard, 
and  one  of  the  men  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  a  tree. 

"  11.  Crossed  the  first  pond  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  over; 
here  is  plenty  of  fine  trout. 

"  12.  There  was  a  log  house  built  on  the  first  carrying-place, 
between  the  first  and  second  ponds. 

"  13.  Crossed  the  carrying-place  from  this  pond  to  another; 
the  carrying-place  is  about  one  mile  over. 

"  14.  Crossed  the  pond  about  half  a  mile  over,  and  got  over 
the  carrying-place  about  one  and  a  half  miles  in  length; 
the  woods  are  cedar  and  hemlock. 

"  16.  Crossed  the  third  pond,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  over. 
We  got  over  the  fourth  carrying-place,  four  and  a  half 
miles  in  length;  part  of  the  way  over  a  boggy  swamp,  over- 
grown with  white  moss  and  bushes,  which  seemed  half 
withered;  found  it  difficult  getting  over  our  batteaux  and 
barrels,  sinking  knee  deep  in  moss  and  mud.  We  launched 
our  batteaux  into  a  small  creek  which  enters  the  Dead  river. 

"    17.      Went  eighteen  miles  up  the  Dead  river. 

"  18.  Overtook  Col.  Green4  and  his  party  about  twenty-five 
miles  up  Dead  river;  had  orders  to  put  ourselves  in  a  de- 
fensive condition. 

"    19       Had  orders  to  march,  and  went  about  five  miles. 

"    20.-       Rained  all  last  night  and  this  day. 

"  21.  Marched  through  hideous  woods  and  mountains  for  the 
most  part,  but  sometimes  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  which 
is  very  rapid. 


3.  Father  of  the  Rev.  GARDINER  SPRING,  D.D.,  Pastor  of  the  Brick  Church. 

4.  The  hero  of  Red  Bank,  who,  with  his  command,  were  afterward  sur- 
prised and  murdered  by  a.  party  of  Refugees,  near  Pine's  Bridge,  West- 
chester  county,  May  13,  1781. 

2 


12  JOURNAL. 

75. 

.  23.  Captain  EANDSHILL^  and  sixty  men  went  forward  with 
ten  days'  provision;  about  forty  sick  and  weak  men  went 
back  with  only  two  or  three  days'  provision.  The  river 
here  is  narrow  and  excessive  rapid. 

24.  Continued  our  march,  though  slowly. 

25.  Hear  that  Colonel  iNNis'6  division  are  gone  back. 

26.  Crossed  the  fifth  carrying-place,  which  brought  us  to  the 
first  pond,  leading  to  Chadeur7  river. 

27.  Crossed  the  second  carrying-place,  three-quarters  of  a 
mile,  then  crossed  second  pond,  then  third  carrying-place 
and  third  pond,  then  fourth  carrying-place  and  fourth  pond, 
and  encamped. 

28.  Came  down  Chadeur  river  in  a  birch  canoe,  and  went  to 
fetch  back  a  batteau  to  carry  the  men  across  a  river,  but 
could  not  overtake  them.     The  company  were  ten  miles, 
wading  knee  deep  among  alders,  &c.,  the  greatest  part  of 
the  way,  and  came  to  a  river  which  had  overflown  the  land. 
We  stopped  some  time  not  knowing  what  to  do,  and  at  last 
were  obliged  to  wade  through  it,  the  ground  giving  way 
under  us  at  every  step.     We  got  on  a  little  knoll  of  land 
and  went  ten  miles,  where  we  were  obliged  to  stay,  night 
coming  on,  and  we  were  all  cold  and  wet;  one  man  fainted 
in  the  water  with  fatigue  and  cold,  but  was  helped  along. 
We  had  to  wade  into  the  water  and  chop  down  trees,  fetch 
the  wood  out  of  the  water  after  dark  to  make  a  fire  to  dry 
ourselves;  however,  at  last  we  got  a  fire,  and  after  eating 
a  mouthful  of  pork,  laid  ourselves  down  to  sleep  round  the 
fire,  the  water  surrounding  us  close  to  our  heads;  if  it  had 


5.  Hanchel.     "  Head  Quarters  before  Quebec,  Dec.  26."     "I  have  dis- 
covered that  three  companies  of  Col.  Arnold's  detachment  are  very  averse 
to  a  coup-de-main,     Capt.  Hanchel,  who  has  incurred  Col.  Arnold's  dis- 
pleasure, is  at  the  bottom  of  it.    A  field  officer  is  concerned  in  it.     This 
dangerous  party  threatens  the  ruin  of  our  affairs. — Extract  from  General 
Montgomery's  letter.     Dunlap's  History  of  J\ew  York,  vol.  ii,p.  24. 

6.  Col.  Enos.  7.  Chaudiere. 


JOURNAL.  13 

1775 

Oct'r.  28  rained  hard  it  would  have  overflown  the  place  we  were  in. 
Capt.  GOODRICH'S  company  had  only  three-quarters  of  a 
pound  of  pork,  each  man,  and  a  barrel  of  flour  among  the 
whole.  They  ordered  the  batteau  to  proceed  down  the 
river  with  the  flour,  and  when  they  came  to  the  place  above- 
mentioned,  waded  through.  They  came  to  the  knoll  of 
land  beforementioned,  and  made  a  fire  to  dry  themselves, 
being  almost  perished.  After  some  time  they  marched,  and 
found  the  difficulty  increasing,  being  informed  they  must 
return  the  way  they  came;  being  night,  they  camped  on  the 
dryest  spot  they  could  find. 

"  29.  Being  Sunday;  crossed  a  river  after  much  fatigue  and  loss 
of  time,  in  a  birch  canoe,  and  then  waded  to  another  river, 
about  forty  rods  from  the  first,  which  we  crossed  last  night. 
I  lay  at  a  bark  house,  and  this  morning  went  in  the  canoe 
to  ferry  over  the  people  over  the  two  rivers  above-mention- 
ed, leaving  my  provision  behind,  as  did  Captain  DEARBORN 
and  the  three  other  officers.  After  we  got  over  these  rivers, 
Captain  DEARBORN,  steering  by  a  bad  compass,  went  wrong 
about  two  miles,  the  company  following,  and  we  went  back 
again,  then  went  two  or  three  miles  to  a  little  bark  house, 
where  I  had  left  my  provision,  and  on  coming  there  found 
that  our  provision  was  stolen  by  Captain  MORGAN'SS  com- 
pany. GOODRICH'S  company  came  to  the  lower  end  of 
Chadeur  pond  expecting  to  find  their  batteau  with  the  flour, 
but  were  disappointed. 

<«  so.  I  set  out  in  a  birch  bark  canoe  with  Capt.  DEARBORN 
and  Captain  AYRES.  We  proceeded  to  the  lower  end  of 
the  pond,  where  Captain  DEARBORN  left  the  canoe,  and  Cap- 
tain AYRES  and  I  proceeded  down  Chadeur  river,  about 
three  miles,  and  came  to  a  riply  place,  which  was  very  dan- 
gerous, the  rocks  standing  up  all  over  the  river.  Here  a 
batteau  was  stove,  with  four  men,  and  one  man  drowned, 


8.  Tlie  hero  of  the  "  Cowpens." 


14  JOURNAL. 

Oct'r.  30.  named  GEORGE  INNTS.  I  got  safe  down  this  place,  and 
from  bad  or  worse;  proceeded  till  night,  and  encamped 
with  the  company.  GOODRICH'S  company  set  out  early, 
though  on  empty  stomachs,  and  marched  about  ten  miles  in 
hopes  to  overtake  their  batteau  with  the  flour,  but  coming 
to  a  small  creek,  they  found  an  advertisement  set  up,  in- 
forming them  that  their  batteau  was  stove  and  the  flour 
lost,  and  the  men  with  difficulty  having  saved  their  lives. 
This  was  melancholy  news  to  them,  having  eaten  scarcely 
any  thing  for  several  days,  and  having  waded  through  ice 
and  water,  and  were  a  great  way  from  any  inhabitants,  and 
knew  not  how  far  it  was.  They  agreed  to  part,  and  the 
heartiest  to  push  forward  as  fast  as  they  could. 
"  si.  This  day  I  took  my  pack  and  went  by  land,  all  the  way, 
to  inhabitants.  I  was  not  well,  having  the  flux.  We  went 
twenty-one  miles.  GOODRICH'S  company  marched  three 
miles  and  were  overtaken  by  Captain  SMITH,  who  informed 
them  that  Captain  GOODRICH  had  left  two  quarters  of  a  dog 
for  them.  They  stopped  and  sent  for  the  meat,  but  the 
men  returned  without  finding  it;  however,  gome  of  them 
killed  another  dog9  which  belonged  to  us,  which  probably 
saved  some  of  their  lives.  Captain  WARD'S  company  killed 
another  dog. 

Nov'r.  1.  Continued  unwell;  this  day  I  eat  the  last  of  my  provis- 
ion; I  kept  with  the  company,  and  we  went  twenty  miles. 
"  2.  Traveled  four  miles;  I  shot  a  small  bird  called  a  sedee, 
and  a  squirrel,  which  I  lived  upon  this  day.  About  noon 
we  met  some  Frenchmen  with  cattle  for  our  army,  and  some 
meal  in  a  canoe.  I  had  a  small  piece  of  meat  and  bread 


9.  This  dog  belonged  to  Capt  Dearborn,  and  was  a  great  favorite  "My 
dog  was  very  large  and  a  great  favorite.  I  gave  him  up  to  several  of  Capt. 
Goodrich' s  company  They  carried  him  to  their  company,  and  killed  and 
divided  him  among  those  who  were  suffering  most  severely  with  hunger. 
They  ate  every  part  of  him,  not  excepting  his  entrails." — Letter  of  Gen. 
Dearborn  to  the  Rev.  William  Allen. 


JOUENAL.  15 

1775 

Nov'r.2.  given  me;  yesterday  my  messmates  gave  away  victuals  to 
strangers  but  refused  me,  though  they  knew  I  had  mine 
stolen  from  me.  This  evening,  to  our  great  joy,  we  arrived 
at  the  first  French  house,  where  was  provision  ready  for  us. 
The  first  victuals  I  got  was  some  boiled  rice,  which  I  bought 
of  the  Indians,  giving  one  shilling  and  four  pence  for  about 
a  pint  and  a  half.  Here  we  were  joined  by  about  seventy 
or  eighty  Indians,  all  finely  ornamented  in  their  way  with 
broaches,  bracelets  and  other  trinkets,  and  their  faces 
painted.  I  had  gone  barefoot  these  two  or  three  days,  and 
wore  my  feet  sore. 

"  3.  Snowed  all  day;  marched  about  nine  miles,  when  we 
drawed  provisions. 

"     4.       Marched  about  thirteen  miles. 

"  5.  Sunday — marched  about  twelve  miles.  Our  Colonel  went 
forward  and  got  beef  killed  for  us  every  ten  or  twelve 
miles,  and  served  us  potatoes  instead  of  bread.  I  stood 
sentry  over  one  FLOOD,  who  was  whipped  for  stealing 
Captain  DEAEBOBN'S  pocket  book.  This  was  at  St.  Mary's. 

"  G.  Marched  twenty  miles;  very  bad  traveling,  as  it  was 
all  the  way  to  Quebec.  Twelve  miles  was  through  woods, 
in  the  night,  mid  leg  in  mud  and  snow.  I  traveled  the 
whole  day  without  eating,  and  could  not  get  any  house 
to  lay  in,  but  lodged  in  a  barn  all  night. 

"  7.  Marched  fifteen  miles;  snowed  all  day.  My  money  be- 
ing gone  I  could  get  nothing  to  eat  'till  night,  when  there 
was  an  ox  killed. 

"  g.  Marched  six  miles  and  came  to  Point  Levi,  on  the  river 
St.  Lawrence,  opposite  Quebec. 

"     9.       Our  people  took  a  prisoner,  who  was  a  midshipman.10 

10  "  The  boat  soon  struck  the  bank,  and  a  midshipman,  a  lad  named  Mc- 
Kenzie,  brother  to  the  captain  of  the  frigate,  sprang  ashore.    The  tide 
ebbing  at  the  lime,  the  boat's  crew  were  ordered  to  shove  off,  and  to  go 
'     higher  up  to  a  deeper  landing  place.    While  obeying  this  order  they  dis- 
covered the  Americans  on  the  bank  above,   and  immediately  pulled  off 


16  JOURNAL. 

Nov'r.  9.  Continued  at  Point  Levi;  kept  guard  along  the  river  side, 
making  scaling  ladders  and  collecting  canoes  to  cross  the 
river;  the  enemy  having  broken  all  the  boats  they  could 
find. 

"  13.  In  the  evening  crossed  St.  Lawrence  at  the  mill  above 
Point  Levi,  and  landed  at  Wolfe's  cove.  I  went  back 
twice  to  fetch  over  the  people,  and  stayed  'till  day.  The 
town  was  alarmed  by  our  Colonel  firing  at  a  boat  on  the 
river.  We  went  to  Major  CALDWELL'S  house,  about  two 
miles  from  the  city,  where  we  were  quartered;  a  whole 
company  having  only  one  small  room. 

"  14.  One  of  our  sentries  was  taken  by  the  enemy,  which 
alarmed  us;  we  expected  they  were  come  to  give  us  battle, 
and  the  whole  detachment  marched  within  musquet  shot  of 
the  walls,  but  saw  none  to  oppose  us;  but  when  we  were 
turned  to  go  back  they  fired  several  cannon  shots  at  us, 
without  doing  any  damage. 

"  15.  The  detachment  went  out  on  a  scout;  I  went  on  guard  at 
Wolfe's  cove. 

"   17.       Went  on  guard  at  Wolfe's  cove. 

"19.  I  was  employed  all  the  fore  part  of  last  night  in  butch- 
ering for  the  army,  and  about  four  in  the  morning  got  on 
our  march  and  went  to  Point  aux  Trembles,  about  twenty- 
six  miles  above  Quebec.  We  kept  guard  at  the  river 
Caroche. 

"  27.  Monday — Lieut.  HTJTCHINS  and  sixty  men,  went  up  to  meet 
and  convoy  a  quantity  of  gunpowder,  clothes,  &c. 


shore,  leaving  their  officer  to  his  fate.  Morgan,  frustrated  in  the  design 
he  had  formed  to  surprise  and  capture  the  boat's  crew,  now  opened  a  fire 
upon  them.  The  midshipman,  comprehending  at  once  his  situation, 
plunged  into  the  river,  in  the  hope  to  regain  his  boat;  but  being  deserted 
by  the  boat's  crew,  who  pulled  out  still  further  from  the  reach  of  danger, 
and  noticing  the  balls  which  now  struck  the  water  around  him  in  fearful 
proximity  to  his  head,  he  turned  toward  the  shore,  and  otherwise  signified 
his  willingness  to  surrender." — Life  of  Gen.  Morgan,  p.  79. 


JOURNAL.  17 

•I  *T*TC 

Nov.  28.  I  went  on  guard  at  a  bridge,  six  miles  from  Quebec;  stood 
sentry  two  hours  and  off  one  every  night,  where  I  continued 
'till  the  army  came  down  to  Quebec. 

Dec'r.  3.  The  cannon  were  sent  down  the  river  in  batteaux  and 
landed  in  the  night. 

"  5.  The  detachment  marched  on  their  way  to  Quebec.  We 
were  quartered  in  a  nunnery,  near  the  town,  but  it  was 
wanted  for  a  hospital,  and  we  went  over  the  river  St. 
Charles,  where  we  continued. 

"    10.       Sunday. — Busy  making  scaling  ladders,  &c. 

«<    25.       Had  orders  to  give  our  opinion  whether  to  scale  or  not. 

"   26.       Turned  out  to  storm  the  town,  but  it  was  too  light. 

"  31.  Sunday. — About  four  in  the  morning,  were  mustered  in  or- 
der to  storm  the  town;  it  snowed  and  stormed  and  was  very 
dark.  Our  company  had  not  timely  notice  of  the  attack, 
which  occasioned  us  to  be  too  late,  for  when  the  firing  be- 
gan we  had  a  mile  and  a  half  to  march.  We  made  all  pos- 
sible haste,  and  met  Colonel  ARNOLD  going  back  wounded. 
I  was  on  guard  in  St.  Roque  that  night,  and  went  forward 
with  the  main  body,  and  was  not  with  the  company.  The 
company  went  beyond  Palace  Gate,  the  enemy  firing  briskly 
at  them  from  the  walls,  and  killed  two  or  three.  The  ene- 
my sallied  out,  and  they  surrendered,  as  did  all  the  detach- 
ment, except  some  few  who  made  their  escape.11  We  were 
put  into  a  monastery,  among  the  friars;  at  night  we  had 
some  biscuit  distributed  among  us. 


11.  In  the  action  Capt.  Dearborn,  who  had  been  quartered  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river  St.  Charles,  marched  to  join  the  main  body,  but  in  the  at- 
tempt was  captured  with  his  company  by  Capt.  Law,  who  issued  from 
Palace  Gate,  with  two  hundred  men  and  some  cannon. — Allen's  Biograj-hl- 
cal  Dictionary. 


JANUARY,  4770,— PMSONEB  IN  QUEBEC. 


1776. 

Jan'y  1.  We  had  a  straw  bed  between  two,  and  a  blanket,  each 
man,  served  to  us.  We  had  some  porter  given  us.  Snowed 
in  the  morning. 

"  3.  We  were  ordered  to  give  a  list  of  our  names,  age,  where 
born,  and  what  regiment  we  belonged  to.  Snowed  in  the 
morning. 

"  4.  All  the  old  countrymen  were  called  into  another  room 
and  examined.  Snowed  in  the  morning. 

"  6.  They  were  called  for  again,  and  made  to  take  arms  for 
the  king  until  the  31st  May. 

"     6.       Fair  weather;  they  were  taken  out. 

"  7.  Some  of  our  people  taken  with  the  small  pox.  Fair 
weather. 

"     8.       Snowed  in  the  morning. 

•«  9.  Very  dark  weather  and  snowed.  Some  more  taken  with 
the  small  pox,  and  we  expect  it  will  be  a  general  disorder, 
for  we  are  very  thick,  nasty  and  lousy.  Our  living  is  salt 
pork,  biscuit,  rice  and  butter,  and  a  sufficiency  allowed  if 
we  were  not  checked  in  our  weight,  by  one  DEWEY,  who  is 
appointed  our  quarter-master-sergeant,  to  deal  out  our  pro- 
vision; and  instead  of  being  our  friend,  proves  our  greatest 
enemy,  defrauding  us  of  great  part  of  our  provision.  We 
have  not  above  three  oz.  of  pork  a  day,  and  not  half-pint  of 
rice  and  two  biscuit  a  day. 

«.  10.  Fair,  but  excessive  cold.  I  went  to  the  hospital,  having 
the  small  pox. 

"H.      A  snow  storm,  lasted  two  days  and  nights. 

"    12.       Snowed  all  day;  cleared  at  night. 


PRISONER   IN  QUEBEC.  19 

1776. 

Jan'y  13.       Snowed  all  day. 
"    14.       Sunday.     Fair,  but  very  cold. 
"    15.       An  excessive  cold  snow  storm. 

"    16.       Fair  weather;  snowed  all  next  night. 

"    17.       Snowed  all  day. 

"  18.  Cloudy  and  cold;  several  taken  with  the  small  pox;  went 
to  the  hospital;  some  of  our  men's  clothes  brought  into 
town  from  our  army,  but  none  for  our  company.  I  am  now 
got  almost  well,  having  had  the  small  pox  lightly.  A 
Frenchman  being  at  the  point  of  death,  the  nuns  came  and 
read  over  him,  afterward  the  priest  came  in,  then  they 
fetched  in  a  table,  covered  with  a  white  cloth,  and  lighted 
two  wax  candles,  about  three  feet  long,  and  set  them  on  the 
table.  The  priest  put  on  a  white  robe  over  his  other  gar- 
ments, and  the  nuns  kneeled  down,  and  the  priest  stood  and 
read  a  sentence,  and  then  the  nuns  a  sentence,  and  so  they 
went  on  some  time;  then  the  priest  prayed  by  himself;  then 
the  nuns  and  then  the  priest  again;  then  they  read  alto- 
gether a  spell,  and  finally  the  priest  alone;  then  the  priest 
stroked  the  man's  face,  and  then  they  took  away  their  can- 
dles and  tables,  &c.,  and  the  man  died. 

11    19.       Cloudy  and  cold. 

"  20.  DEWEY  complained  of  fifteen  of  our  men  who  had  agreed 
to  fight  their  way  out;  two  of  them  were  put  in  irons. 

"  21.  Cloudy  and  cold;  cleared  in  the  afternoon.  We  were 
ordered  to  make  a  return  of  all  the  tradesmen  among  us. 
About  this  time  two  of  our  company,  who  were  listed  into 
the  king's  service,  made  their  escape  out  of  town.  This 
day  I  came  out  of  the  hospital. 

"  22.  Last  night  our  army  burnt  four  of  the  enemy's  vessels. 
Cloudy  and  cold;  cleared  in  the  afternoon. 

"    23.       Cloudy. 

"    24.       Cloudy;  snowed  in  the  morning. 

"   25,       Fair  weather. 
3 


20  JOURNAL. 

1776. 

Jan'y  26.       Cloudy  and  cold. 

"    27.       Fair  weather. 

"    28.       Sunday.     Clear  and  excessive  cold. 

"   29.       Clear  and  excessive  cold. 

"  31.  The  time  seems  very  long;  no  employment.  Nothing 
heard  or  seen  but  playing  at  cards,  swearing,  and  some  play- 
ing away  all  their  allowance  of  victuals;  some  employ  them- 
selves in  making  wooden  spoons,  little  boxes,  &c. ;  cloudy. 

FEBRUARY,  1776. 

Feb'y  1.  Clear  weather. 

"2.  A  pleasant  day. 

"     3.  Clear  weather. 

"     4.  Sunday.     Clear  and  cold. 

"     6-  Cold  and  windy;  snowed  at  night. 

"     6.  Clear  weather. 

"     7.  Thick  weather. 

"     8.  Clear  and  cold. 

"     9.  Cold  and  snowed. 

"    10.  An  excessive  bad  snow  storm;  some  sentries  froze  dead. 

"    ll.  Sunday.     Cleared  up  in  the  night,  and  was  a  fair  day. 

"    12.  Pleasant  weather.     Our  men  take  the  small  pox  fast. 

"    13.  Fair  and  cold. 

"    14.  Fair  weather. 

"  15.  Clear  weather.  One  of  our  men  named  PARROT,  put  in 
irons  for  calling  one  of  the  emigrants  a  tory.  Our  army 
opened  a  battery. 

"  16.  All  the  old  countrymen  brought  into  prison  again,  be- 
cause six  of  them  deserted  last  night. 

"    18.  Sunday.     Clear  weather. 

"    19.  do.        do. 

"   20.  do.        do. 

"    21.  Thick  weather. 

"    22.  Clear  weather. 


PRISONER   IN   QUEBEC.  21 

1776. 

Feb'y23.       Cloudy  and  windy. 

"  24.  Various  reports  concerning  us;  some  say  we  shall  be  sent 
to  England  and  sold  as  slaves  to  some  island;  others  say 
that  we  shall  be  sent  to  Boston  and  exchanged;  others  say 
that  we  shall  certainly  be  hanged ;  but  we  are  in  hopes  that 
our  people  will  release  us  by  taking  the  town. 

"    25.       Sunday.     Fair  weather. 

"    26.       Thick  weather. 

"    27.       Snowed  in  the  morning  and  thawed  at  night. 

"    28.       Snowed  in  the  morning  and  thawed  all  day. 

"    29.       Fair  and  cold. 

MARCH,  1776. 

March  l.  Clear  and  cold;  one  BROWN  put  in  irons  for  answering 
one  of  the  sentries  who  abused  him. 

«     2.       Snowed  in  the  morning;  clear  and  cold  all  day. 

"     3.       Sunday.     Clear  and  cold. 

«     4.       Clear. 

«     5.       Cloudy,  windy  and  cold;  snowed  at  night. 

«     6.       Cold  weather;  hail  and  rain. 

"     7.       Clear  weather. 

"     8.       Clear  and  cold. 

"     9.       The  town  was  alarmed. 

"    10.       Sunday. 

"  13,  We  were  removed  to  the  goal,  near  St.  John's  gate,  which 
is  bomb  proof.  Here  we  have  the  liberty  of  a  yard  of 
about  a  quarter  of  an  acre. 

"    16.       Rained  all  day. 

"  17.  Sunday,  pleasant  weather.  The  guard  set  over  us  are  old 
Frenchmen  and  boys,  who  are  very  saucy,  telling  us  we 
shall  be  hanged;  pointing  their  bayonets  at  us;  threatening 
to  shoot  us  for  opening  a  window,  or  any  such  trifle. 

"    18,      Pleasant  weather. 

"    19.       Snowed. 


22  JOURNAL. 

1776. 
M'ch  20.       Snowed  in  the  morning;  clear  at  night. 

«'  21.  Clear  and  cold.  The  French  guard  of  boys  and  old  men 
are  very  saucy — threatening  us  daily. 

"   22.       Cloudy  and  cold. 

"    24.       Sunday.     Cold  and  squally. 

"    25.       Clear  and  cold. 

"  26.  Last  night  one  of  our  men  escaped  out  of  goal  and  got 
clear.  About  this  time  a  plan  was  laid  for  our  enlarge- 
ment, and  we  prepared  to  break  out  and  make  our  escape, 
by  seizing  the  guard.  Clear  and  cold. 

"    27.       Clear  and  cold. 

"    28.  do.          do. 

"    29.       Clear;  a  warm  sun. 

"    30.       Clear;  a  warm  sun. 

"  31.  Sunday.  Snowed;  our  scheme  found  out;  the  sentry  hear- 
ing some  noise  in  the  cellar,  search  was  made,  and  some 
suspicion  raised  which  might  have  passed  off  had  not  one 
of  our  own  men,  JOHN  HALL,  discovered  the  whole  affair, 
and  all  the  sergeants  and  corporals  were  put  in  irons. 

APRIL,  1776. 

April  l.  Fair  weather.  This  morning  the  guard  turned  out  and 
fired  some  time  before  the  goal ;  then  the  alarm  bell  rang, 
and  the  cannon  on  the  walls  were  fired  in  order  to  draw 
our  army  near  the  walls  that  they  might  cut  them  off  with 
grape  shot .  This  day  we  were  almost  all  in  irons. 

"     2       Pleasant  weather. 

"  3.-  Cannonading  on  both  sides.  Our  army  are  erecting  a 
battery  at  Point  Levi .  Cloudy,  and  rained  in  the  afternoon . 

"     4.       Squally. 

"     5.       Fair  weather. 

•'     6.       Cloudy  and  cold. 

"     7.       Sunday. 
Cloudy. 


PKISONER  IN  QUEBEC.  23 

1776. 

April  9.       Warm  weather. 
«    10.       Fair  weather. 

"    11.       Very  windy  last  night;  rained  in  the  afternoon. 
"    12.       Cloudy  and  snowed. 
"13.       A  raw  air. 
"    14.       Sunday.     Major  MCKENZIE  came  in  and  took  Captain 

MORGAN'S  company  out  of  irons.     Clear  in  the  morning; 

cloudy  almost  all  day. 
"    15.       This  day  the  Yorkers'  time  was  out,  and  they  wanted  to 

go  home,  but  were  compelled  to  stay. 
"    16.       Clear  morning;  clouded  up  soon. 
"    17.       Had  a  week's  allowance  of  fresh  beef,  which  had  been 

killed  three  or  four  months,  of  which  they  boasted  much, 

telling  us  it  was  more  than  our  army  could  get.     Windy 

and  cold. 
"    18.       Cloudy  morning;  clear  afternoon;  cannonading  on  both 

sides. 

"    19-       Cloudy  and  cold. 
"    20.       Cloudy. 

"    21.       Sunday.    Pleasant.    They  fired  heavy  cannon  in  the  city. 
"    22.       The  time  seems  long;  all  in  irons;  though  most  of  us  pull 

them  off  at  night.     I  never  lay  but  two  nights  with  them  on. 
"    23.        Cold  and  squally. 
"   24.       Fair  and  windy. 
"    25.       Our  army  began  to  cross  the  river  to  and  from  Point 

Levi.     Fair  weather. 

"   26.       Cloudy  and  some  rain;  the  ground  one  half  bare  of  snow. 
"    27.       Cloudy. 

28        Some  of  our  officers  tried  to  make  their  escape,  but  were 

discovered  and  put  in  irons.    Fair  weather. 
"    29.       Pleasant  weather. 
«    30.       Foggy  and  rainy. 


24  JOURNAL. 

MAY,  1776. 

1776. 
May    l.        Cloudy;  snowed  m  the  morning. 

«     2.       Fair   and  cold.    Fired  brisk  on  both  sides. 

«'     3.       Heard  cannon  fired  at  some  distance. 

"4.  At  nine  or  ten  o'clock,  at  night,  the  town  was  alarmed 
by  a  fire-ship  from  our  people,  which  did  no  damage. 

"     5.       Sunday.    Eained  in  the  morning;  cleared  toward  night. 

"  6.  Pleasant.  About  sunrise  the  town  was  alarmed,  and 
three  ships  came  up,  landed  some  troops,  and  sailed  up  the 
river.  The  troops  marched  out  at  noon,  and  our  army  re- 
treated, leaving  a  few  sick  men  behind  them,  who  were 
brought  into  town.12 

"  7.  Gen.  CARLETON  came  in  and  ordered  our  irons  to  be 
taken  off.  Pleasant  day. 

"  8.  Cloudy.  Hear  many  improbable  stories  about  Boston, 
New  York,  <fec. 

"     9.       Rainy  day.     Six  prisoners  were  brought  into  goal. 

"  10.  Two  riflemen  were  taken  out  of  goal;  we  don't  know  on 
what  terms.  Same  day,  two  Jersey  dumpling  eaters  were 
brought  in;  they  were  found  among  the  bushes,  not  having 
tried  to  make  their  escape,  being  too  heavy  laden  with 
dumplings  and  pork,  having  forty  pounds  of  pork,  a  knap- 
sack full  of  dumplings,  and  a  quantity  of  flour.  Fair  in 
the  morning;  rained  at  night. 

"   11.       Fair  weather.    A  party  of  king's  troops  marched. 

"   12.       Sunday.     Clear  weather. 

"   13.       Fair;  a  raw  wind. 

"    14-       Fair;  a  ship  sailed  for  England. 

"    15.       Fair;  a  raw  wind. 

"   16.       Fair  and  clear. 


12.  General  THOMAS,  who  was  appointed  to  succeed  MONTGOMERY,  arrived 
early  in  May;  but  CARLETON  having  received  reinforcements  under  BUR- 
GOTNE,  the  Americans  were  obliged  to  make  a  hasty  retreat,  leaving  their 
stores  and  sick  behind.  The  latter  were  kindly  treated,  and  finally  sent 
home. — Lossing's  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution,  vol.  i.  p.  202. 


PRISONER  IN  QUEBEC.  25 

1776. 
May    17.        Fair. 

»    is.      Pleasant  weather;  hear  that  Major  MEIGS  and  Captain 

DEARBORN  are  gone  home. 
"  19.  Sunday.  Fair  weather. 
"  20.  Cloudy  and  showery.  Light  infantry  and  grenadiers 

marched. 

"    21.       Cloudy,  and  a  raw  wind. 
"    22.       Pleasant  weather. 
"   23.  do.        do. 

"    24.  do.        do. 

"   25,      Eained  in  the  afternoon.     Sergeant  BoYD13  brought  back 

to  prison. 
"    26.       Sunday. 

"   27.       Pleasant.     Ten  ships  arrived  with  troops. 
"    28.       Clear  and  windy. 
"    29.       Fair. 

30-       Fair;  cloudy  at  night. 

31>       Fair;  some  troops  marched. 

JUNE,  1776. 

June  l.       The  Brunswickers  arrived;  said  to  be  six  thousand.14 
"     2.       Sunday.     Fair  weather. 
"     3.       Warm;  cloudy  at  night. 

"     4.       A  royal  salute  fired,  being  the  king's  birth-day.     Cloudy. 
"     5.       Pleasant  weather.     Gov.  CARLETON  came  in  to  us  and 

offered  to  send  us  home  on  condition  not  to  bear  arms 

again. 


13.  Sergeant  BOYD,  who  after  being  exchanged,  was  a  lieutenant  in  the 
first  Pennsylvania  regiment,  and  accompanied  Gen .  SULLIVAN  in  his  expe- 
dition against  the  Indians,  in  1779,  and  by  whose  hands  he  perished,  after 
suffeling  the  most  atrocious  cruelties. 

14.  "  We  are  now,  after  much  suffering,  two  leagues  distant  from  Quebec, 
where  we  shall  arrive  this  evening,  but  where  we  shall  not  make  any  stay; 
General  CARLETON  having,  before  our  arrival,  driven  the  rebels  from  the 
environs  of  Quebec,  and  being  at  present  engaged  in  their  pursuit." — 
Madame  De  Reidesel's  Journal,  p    25. 


26  JOUKNAL. 

1776. 

June  6.       Cloudy;  rained  at  night.     Sent  the  governor  an  answer 

to  his  proposal. 
"     7.        Cloudy  and  windy. 
"     8.       Fair  weather.    Hear  that   there  are  three  thousand  of 

our  men  at  Sartigan. 
"     9.       Fair  weather.     Sunday.     Hear  that  they  landed  three 

thousand  men,  and  our  army  defeated  them. 
"    JO-       Fair  weather.     Hear  that  two  thousand  of  our  men  were 

surrounded  and  taken. 
"    11.       Yery  pleasant. 
"    12.       Fair  weather. 
"    13.       Fair  weather.     Hear  they  have  taken  two  hundred  of 

our  men,  who  are  to  be  sent  to  Halifax.     Heard  that  our 

men  had  sunk  the  Commodore. 
"    14.       Raw  cold  wind. 
"    15.       Rained  at  night. 
"    16.      Fair  weather. 
"    17.       Fair  weather.     Hear  that  our  army  have  killed  and  taken 

four  thousand  Dutchmen. 
"    18.       Clear  morning;  cloudy  afternoon. 
"    19.       A  thunder  storm,  with  hail  stones  as  big  as  2  oz.  balls;  a 

young  woman  was  killed  by  the  lightning. 
"20.       A  fair  morn;  a  shower  in  the  afternoon. 
"    21.       Fair  weather. 
"22.       A  fair  morn;  rained  in  the  evening. 
"    23.       Sunday.     Fair  weather.     Hear  that  our  men  drove  the 

king's  troops. 

"    24.       Fair.     Hear  that  our  army  have  retreated  out  of  Canada. 
"    25.       Fair  weather.     Hear  that  they  have  brought  three  hun- 
dred Jersey  blues,  prisoners,  to  town. 
"    26.       Fair  weather. 

"    27.       Fair.     Two  ships  came  up  in  the  morning. 
"    28.       Fair  and  warm. 
"   29.      Fair  weather.    Hear  that  peace  is  proclaimed;  also,  that 


PRISONER  IN  QUEBEC.  27 

1776. 
June  29 .   they  have  killed  four  thousand  of  our  men  and  taken  ten 

thousand,  and  that  General  WASHINGTON  is  killed. 
"    30.       Sunday.    We  hear  there  is  a  French  fleet  come  in  at  Phil- 
adelphia, of  seventy*  sail.     Two  ships  came  up  to  Quebec. 

JULY,  1776. 

July  1.  Fair  weather;  a  thunder  shower  at  night.  Hear  of  the 
Indians  scalping  our  people  at  Three  Rivers. 

"     2.       Lowery  weather. 

"     3.       Showery  weather;  cleared  in  the  afternoon. 

"  4.  Fair  weather.  We  hear  that  they  are  waiting  for  some 
officers  that  they  have  taken,  to  come  here,  and  then  we 
shall  be  exchanged.  Two  prisoners  brought  in.  Thunder 
at  night. 

"  5.  Rainy  morn;  clear  afternoon.  One  of  our  men  was  so 
indiscreet  as  to  pull  out  one  of  the  iron  bars,  in  sight  of  the 
sentry.  When  he  was  relieved  he  fetched  the  officer  of  the 
guard  and  showed  him  what  had  been  done,  and  search  be- 
ing made,  some  more  were  found  out,  which  caused  much 
suspicion  of  us  all.  The  prisoners  brought  in  last  night  in- 
form us  that  the  Indians  scalped  many  of  our  soldiers,  some 
of  them  alive;  but  that  General  CARLETON,  to  his  great 
honor,  has  refused  to  pay  those  murdering  fiends  for  any 
more  scalps,  but  will  pay  them  the  same  reward  for  every 
prisoner. 

"  6.  Fair  weather.  Saw  three  ships  working  in.  The  man 
who  pulled  out  the  grate  was  informed  of,  so  that  we  hope 
it  will  have  no  ill  effect. 

"  7.  Sunday.  Some  showers  in  the  morning.  The  man  who 
pulled  out  the  grate  beat  the  man  who  informed  of  him, 
and  he  complained  to  the  Provost.  We  hear  that  they  have 
sent  an  express  to  the  Governor,  informing  him  we  have 
made  another  attempt  to  break  out;  we  have  also  a  report 
that  our  officers  had  attempted  to  set  the  place  they  were 


28  JOUBNAL. 

1776. 

July   .7.  confined  in,  on  fire.    This,  as  well  as  many  more  reports, 
are  not  worth  belief. 

"     8.      Pleasant  weather.    Hear  that  Col.  McLANE  is  taken. 

"     9-       Hear  that  we  are  to  go  home  soon.     Pleasant  weather. 

"    10.       Very  fine  weather. 

n-  Fine  morning;  rained  in  the  afternoon  and  night.  Hear 
that  Col.  McLANE  is  taken,  and  two  thousand  of  their  men, 
crossing  the  lake,  and  that  there  is  a  French  fleet  coming 
here.  We  also  hear  that  the  German  troops  are  to  return 
home. 

"  12.  Rained  almost  all  day.  Hear  that  we  are  to  sail  for 
New  York  in  less  than  ten  days. 

"    13.       Fair  and  warm. 

"  14.  Sunday.  Fair  weather.  We  hear  we  are  to  embark  to- 
morrow. 

"  15.  Fair  and  moderate.  Hear  the  Governor  is  expected  in 
town  soon,  and  then  it  will  be  known  what  will  be  done 
with  us. 

"    16.       Showery. 

"  17.  Do.  cold.  We  have  bread  served  to  us  instead  of 
our  allowance  of  butter. 

"  18.  Fair  and  temperate.  Hear  that  Col.  McLANE  is  come  to 
town,  and  that  the  Governor  is  expected  every  minute. 

"  19.  Cloudy  and  cold;  the  weather  is  so  cold  that  the  Cana- 
dians do  not  expect  a  good  crop  of  corn.  It  is  so  cold  as 
to  wear  a  great  coat.  We  hear  that  Col.  McLANE  says  we 
shall  not  be  sent  home. 

"  20.  Fair  weather.  £!ONNOR.  one  of  the  prisoners  who  came 
into  goal  last,  was  taken  and  put  in  some  other  place  of 
confinement,  and,  as  we  suppose,  put  in  irons  for  talking  im- 
pertinently to  the  Captain  of  the  Provost  guard. 

*'  21.  Rainy  weather,  with  thunder.  Hear  that  we  are  to  go 
home  very  soon;  heard  from  our  officers,  who  gave  us  en- 
couragement. We  have  also  a  report  that  the  French, 


PRISONER  IN  QUEBEC.  29 

1776. 

July  21.  Spaniards  and  Prussians  are  at  war  with  Great  Britain, 
and  that  there  is  a  large  fleet  in  the  bay  of  St.  Lawrence. 

"  22.  Fair  weather.  Saw  a  ship  sail  out.  This  afternoon  the 
Governor  arrived  from  the  army,  and  was  saluted  with  fif- 
teen guns.  This  gives  us  hopes  that  we  shall  be  sent  home. 

"  23.  Cloudy  morning;  fair  all  day.  One  of  our  company  is 
out  of  his  right  mind. 

"  24.  Rainy  weather  fore  part  of  the  day.  We  hear  we  are  to 
be  sent  to  Montreal  and  exchanged. 

"    25.       Fair.     Hear  we  are  not  to  go  home. 

"  26.  Some  rain.  We  hear  that  the  Governor  has  sent  to  let 
our  officers  know  that  within  three  days  he  will  appoint  a 
day  when  to  send  us  home.  Saw  a  brig  and  a  ship  come  in. 

"  27.  Fair  weather.  We  hear  that  the  Governor  has  let  our 
officers  know  that  he  will  send  us  home  on  the  4th  or  5th 
of  August.  This  day  we  saw  the  French  priest  going  to 
visit  a  sick  person.  He  was  attended  by  about  twenty 
people,  as  follows:  first  a  man  goes  ringing  a  little  hand 
bell,  then  two  men  or  boys,  carrying  two  lanthorns,  with 
lighted  candles  on  poles,  about  ten  feet  long;  then  comes 
the  priest,  under  a  canopy,  supported  by  two  men ;  it  is  like 
the  teaster  of  a  bed.  The  priest  is  dressed  in  white  linen 
robes  over  his  black  clothes,  and  things  as  heavy  as  boards 
tied  to  his  knees,  and  hang  dangling  and  knocking  against 
his  shins.  They  have  crosses  on  these  two  things.  After 
the  priest  follow  the  friends  and  children  of  the  sick  person, 
and  any  others  that  happen  to  be  going  that  way  who  think 
they  are  doing  good  to  join  in  with  the  rest.  Every  one 
that  hears  the  bell  is  obliged  to  kneel  down  while  they  pass 
by.  The  priest  has  a  great  cross  upon  his  breast,  and  a 
string  of  wooden  beads  hanging  by  his  side.  The  people 
all  have  these  beads  when  they  go  to  church,  to  help  them 
remember  their  prayers.  They  also  use  the  same  ceremony 
when  they  go  to  a  burying,  and  have  choristers  singing  be- 
fore the  corpse. 


30  JOURNAL. 

1776. 

July  28.  Fair  weather.  This  day,  Mr .  MURRAY,  barrack  master, 
came  in  and  told  us  we  were  to  sail  in  a  week .  We  now 
begin  to  believe  there  is  something  in  it,  though  we  have 
had  so  many  different  reports  that  we  can  scarce  believe 
any  thing  we  hear.  We  are  all  to  have  a  shirt  a  piece 
given  us. 

•«  29.  Rainy  weather.  SIAS,  the  man  who  is  out  of  his  senses, 
grows  worse,  talking  of  killing  some  of  the  people,  &c. 

"    30.       Fair  weather,  except  a  shower  or  two. 

"  31.  Fair  weather.  We  hear  a  report  that  our  army  have  re- 
entered  Canada  and  retaken  Fort  St.  Johns.  We  have 
been  seven  months  in  prison  to  day. 

AUGUST,  177o. 

Aug.    1.       Rainy  morning. 

"  2  Fair  weather.  The  news  to  day  is,  that  our  people  have 
wounded  the  German  General,  mortally,  and  taken  five 
hundred  prisoners  at  Lake  Champlain.  We  have  it  con- 
firmed that  we  are  to  go  on  board  the  vessel  on  Sunday 
next. 

««  3..  Fair  weather.  Hear  that  our  sick  men,  at  the  hospital, 
are  to  go  on  board  this  evening.  We  expect  to  go  to-mor- 
row morning. 

11     4.       Sunday.     Fair  weather. 

"  6.  Fair  weather.  This  afternoon  we  have  each  of  us  a  shirt 
given  to  us,  and  thirty-five  of  our  men  were  sent  on  board, 
after  signing  the  paper. 


END  OF  JOURNAL. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

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•  VV 


/  / 

Ty/ofa  ^E 
IPHLET  BINDER     : 

Syracuse,  N.  Y.    \ 
Stockton,  Calif. 


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